Tennis: Marchenko eager to make mark by catching Murray unawares

Published:08:55Updated:08:55Thursday 20 January 2011

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Andy Murray will have to cope with the changeable Melbourne weather and an opponent who has vowed to create "trouble" for the British No 1 when he continues his attempt to win the Australian Open this morning.

Murray eased into round two after seeing off Karol Beck on Tuesday, the Slovakian retiring with a shoulder injury when 3-6 1-6 2-4 down, and comes up against Ukrainian Illya Marchenko.

World No 79 Marchenko, who helped his country beat Great Britain in a Davis Cup tie in Glasgow in 2009, is aware of how important the match could be as he plots a rise up the rankings and is prepared to scrap all the way against fifth seed Murray.

"The next game is going to be more difficult but I will do everything I can," said the 23-year-old who enjoyed a straight-sets win over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the first round.

"It's a good chance for me to do something, it's really important for me, for my career, to play this match."

While Murray admits he knows little about Marchenko, the same cannot be said in reverse.

"I know him better than he knows me but he doesn't really care how I play," Marchenko added. "He will focus on his game and I will focus on mine."

In addition to a fired-up opponent, Murray will have to work out the conditions, which have ranged from customary heat to unseasonal chilliness in the Victorian capital.

"It's different to what we normally have here," the Scot admitted. "Yesterday was actually pretty cold and it changes the way the court plays a lot.

"It comes through quite low, whereas I'm sure in the next round later on in the week when it gets warmer the ball is going to be bouncing very high."